Dragon Slayer I on Game Boy is one of those old-school RPGs that somehow feels both punishing and satisfying at the same time. You start with a basic sword and a prayer, wandering into forests where even the weakest enemies can wreck you if you're not careful. The first dragon fight? Yeah, that's a wake-up call—you'll be grinding for gold to upgrade your gear before even thinking about taking one down.

What I love about it is how simple but brutal the combat is. No fancy combos, just timing and knowing when to dodge. The pixel art holds up surprisingly well, especially the dragon sprites—they actually look intimidating, not just big lizards with bad attitudes. And that chiptune battle theme? Still gets me hyped.

It’s definitely a product of its time (save points? what save points?), but there’s something weirdly addictive about slowly overpowering enemies that crushed you hours earlier. Just don’t expect hand-holding—this game makes you earn every victory.